The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[iam1bearcat]

The Informant! (blu-ray rental)

FIRST TIME VIEWING.

went in with low expectations and was pretty pleasantly surprised. i've heard a lot of people say the film is boring, and while it does start this way, the second half is by far much more entertaining and funny (if you can get there, that is).

Matt Damon plays the role of Mark Whitacre perfectly. a dorky, bumbling bafoon who is smart with his job, and is a man of many talents (which are detailed in the third act), but also can't seem to keep his mouth shut when he really needs to. he works for a company called ADM, and when he informs his boss that a rival business states they have a mole in their company, they contact the FBI. Whitacre then informs the FBI that ADM told him what to say, because they are in fact, doing other illegal business with other companies. that's the general consesus of the story, but the unravelling that goes on over the next 104 minutes tells you much more is going on than first meets the eye.

by the time the credits rolled i was shocked more than once by the turns the film presents the audience with. but not all is right with The Informant! sadly.

Steven Soderbergh seems to be trying too hard to make a Coen's brothers film. but without the dark humor that the Coen's always have in their films. the quirky musical score is nice, and fits the setting of the film, but overall it seemed to be quite exhausting trying to be something it isn't. also, the dialogue. sometimes very humorous and it got a few LOL's from me. but is the film a comedy or a drama? i take it a comedy because of what Whitacre does and how Damon portrays him, but little stands out.

glad i watched it. it was a fun viewing, but i certainly wouldn't buy The Informant! and don't think it has much replay value. but again, much more entertaining than i expected and better overall than i anticipated, even with the slow start.

3.5/5

[iam1bearcat]

here's a question for my fellow blu-ray.commers, is it okay if i start a thread that i put my reviews from this thread into? and keep track / order of my personal favorites in?

you see, my laptop doesn't have Microsoft Word on it, and the Microsoft Works that all laptops / computers come on no longer works (no idea why) so i have no way of keeping track of my reviews or scores all i can do is note the scores on a piece of paper, but that bugs me out.

but i don't want to make a thread and

a) have it seem like i think i'm big sh!t because i have a thread dedicated to my reviews / scores

b) don't want it to get locked because it isn't allowed, or something like that

i just want to do this so i can have a nice, neat order for my reviews and not piles of handwritten paper copies everywhere. any advice or "yeah, go ahead that's fine!" spirit would be welcome.

thank you.

now time for Mulholland Dr.!!!!! - EDIT: nevermind, the disc i rented is scratched! can't get past the 27 minute mark!

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

You've been on the fence for five years

I will def read some of King's older books and I don't look down upon him because Under the Dome was trash.

recently read The Stand (first novel I'd read in years ). Need to get more into reading. Great novel. I know its ranked like #29 on the top 100 novels of all time (as ranked by readers). Of course, like any list, its only a list, and not to be taken with too much weight.

http://www.randomhouse.com/modernlib...estnovels.html

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

here's a question for my fellow blu-ray.commers, is it okay if i start a thread that i put my reviews from this thread into? and keep track / order of my personal favorites in?

you see, my laptop doesn't have Microsoft Word on it, and the Microsoft Works that all laptops / computers come on no longer works (no idea why) so i have no way of keeping track of my reviews or scores all i can do is note the scores on a piece of paper, but that bugs me out.

but i don't want to make a thread and

a) have it seem like i think i'm big sh!t because i have a thread dedicated to my reviews / scores

b) don't want it to get locked because it isn't allowed, or something like that

i just want to do this so i can have a nice, neat order for my reviews and not piles of handwritten paper copies everywhere. any advice or "yeah, go ahead that's fine!" spirit would be welcome.

thank you.

now time for Mulholland Dr.!!!!!

the other option is:
(1) go through your posts and transport each Film/PQ/AQ rating to the "user reviews" portion under each movie
(2) all of our "user reviews" have a link at the top right of the screen, so its super easy to keep track of.

I think Diesel did this recently (went through the thread and imported them). I think i'll do it too, as like you, I don't want my reviews to fall into a black hole.

GO GET TO MULHOLLAND DRIVE!!!!!! (a film that has shot up my favorites list into my top 10 after a second viewing) And when you're done, there is a 10-12 line post that explains everything so simply. Let me know after you watch it if you want to read the post and i'll send u the link. Looking forward to your review.

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

well this is certainly getting bumped up to the top of the queue...
although i could watch it on netflix streaming too... hmm...

if you dont love it I'll be shocked. 3 words come to mind: Original, Original, Original. ahhhh how nice.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

the other option is:
(1) go through your posts and transport each Film/PQ/AQ rating to the "user reviews" portion under each movie
(2) all of our "user reviews" have a link at the top right of the screen, so its super easy to keep track of.

I think Diesel did this recently (went through the thread and imported them). I think i'll do it too, as like you, I don't want my reviews to fall into a black hole.

GO GET TO MULHOLLAND DRIVE!!!!!! (a film that has shot up my favorites list into my top 10 after a second viewing) And when you're done, there is a 10-12 line post that explains everything so simply. Let me know after you watch it if you want to read the post and i'll send u the link. Looking forward to your review.

can i do this even for movies i don't own?
if so, awesome, then i'll just do that.

and i just edited my last post because my disc of Mulholland Dr. was scratched! maybe i'll watch it on netflix streaming if my ps3 can keep a signal for once.

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

can i do this even for movies i don't own?
if so, awesome, then i'll just do that.

of course. oh and by the way: you can see the "movie reviews" on the top right when you're at the blu-ray.com homepage, so make sure you're at the homepage to see the link.

and i just edited my last post because my disc of Mulholland Dr. was scratched! maybe i'll watch it on netflix streaming if my ps3 can keep a signal for once.

try wash it with dishsoap!!! dude, i'd let u borrow mine if you lived on my block. i just bought the DVD used for like $4 after renting it and falling in love. i didn't realize it was on netflix-instant. yeah, just do that. the DVD isn't that much better anyway.

[Diesel]

Yea I did that with a few of my reviews I've done.

You guys could set up a Social Group with joining by invitation only and everyone start a thread in there for your reviews

Note, though, that the posts in the social groups can only be 1,000 characters, so the longer reviews would have to be split into separate posts. But since it would be your threads, you could do whatever you wanted.



Only do the user review thing if you've seen the movie on blu-ray and can rate the PQ/AQ as well (i.e. don't use the user review feature if it is for something you watched via Netflix instant of DVD).

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by Diesel

Yea I did that with a few of my reviews I've done.

You guys could set up a Social Group with joining by invitation only and everyone start a thread in there for your reviews

Note, though, that the posts in the social groups can only be 1,000 characters, so the longer reviews would have to be split into separate posts. But since it would be your threads, you could do whatever you wanted.

hmmm... now there's an idea! thanks for the info Diesel!
and

[Show spoiler]congrats on your new "label" of entertainment moderator!

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

hmmm... now there's an idea! thanks for the info Diesel!
and

[Show spoiler]congrats on your new "label" of entertainment moderator!

That would keep people from posting in your review thread


Thanks

[tbizzle]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

here's a question for my fellow blu-ray.commers, is it okay if i start a thread that i put my reviews from this thread into? and keep track / order of my personal favorites in?

you see, my laptop doesn't have Microsoft Word on it, and the Microsoft Works that all laptops / computers come on no longer works (no idea why) so i have no way of keeping track of my reviews or scores all i can do is note the scores on a piece of paper, but that bugs me out.

but i don't want to make a thread and

a) have it seem like i think i'm big sh!t because i have a thread dedicated to my reviews / scores

b) don't want it to get locked because it isn't allowed, or something like that

i just want to do this so i can have a nice, neat order for my reviews and not piles of handwritten paper copies everywhere. any advice or "yeah, go ahead that's fine!" spirit would be welcome.

thank you.

now time for Mulholland Dr.!!!!! - EDIT: nevermind, the disc i rented is scratched! can't get past the 27 minute mark!

Sent you a pm about a free Word program

Originally Posted by surfdude12

if you dont love it I'll be shocked. 3 words come to mind: Original, Original, Original. ahhhh how nice.

Yes, very good movie. Might pick this up during the next B&N sale

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

EVERYONE TAKE NOTE:

the force is strong with this one.

I've already reviewed Revanche, so I won't do so again. This was my second viewing. Originally I gave it 4 stars (out of 4), but I always thought it was more of a 3 1/2 star film, so that's what I give it. I'll admit it hurts a little bit, although the score didn't change because of it, that Everlasting Moments was released the same year and didn't get nom'd for the Oscar but Revanche did. Revanche is thematically more complex, but Everlasting Moments is superior in virtually every way. Def glad I own both though, as they are both excellent movies. Not to mention, Revanche looks great on blu.

Surf, have you watched the short film special feature? It's 45 min long but I haven't seen it yet.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

well this is certainly getting bumped up to the top of the queue...
although i could watch it on netflix streaming too... hmm...

Don't stream it--the PQ is excellent, with incredible depth in some scenes.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Good Intentions

Just finished watching The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and I highly recommend it. The PQ was very good, although not reference quality mainly due to the setting. A Swedish winter is very cold and dreary. Great story, this is a must see!

[jhiggy23]

I was thinking today about Playtime and what other films are completely unlike anything else, and one film came to mind: The Werckmeister Harmonies, directed by Bela Tarr (96% on RT). It's the film that has haunted me more than any I have ever watched before, and it has the single most chilling and affecting scene I've ever scene. It's main theme brings forth feelings that no other theme song has. It's a 2 1/2 hour film composed of only 37 shots. Every scene is a long tracking shot, essentially. It may very well be the most thematically complex film I've ever scene. My only complaint is that the tracking shots are taken to the extreme when they show ppl running. These scenes are def too long, although it does build tension. Below are some clips, with the first one being the "scene" I was referring to, the second is another famous scene, and the third is the score (listen to the score alone and it may convince you to see the film):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRBOn...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmFtr...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKK0hxNfNYE


I recently tried to find a copy of this dvd, but the cheapest I can find it for is $60+.

The film is on TheyShootPictures top films of the 2000s:

http://www.theyshootpictures.com/21s...lms101-150.htm

It has a 92 on metascore:

http://www.metacritic.com/film/title...isterharmonies


I plan on watching Tarr's masterpiece, Satantango, which is a 7 hour film, in a few weeks. It has a 100% on Rottentomatoes.

[Romulus]

A few quick reviews:

The Killing Fields

Definitely one of the best films of the 80's, in my opinion. I honestly didn't know a whole lot about the Cambodian Killing Fields going into this film. Right after I was finished watching I ran to my computer and did some more reading on the atrocities. The film is superbly acted. Haing S. Ngor is one of two non-professional actors to win the Academy Award, and deservedly so. I think the cinematography captures South East Asia better than most films about Vietnam/Cambodia, sole exception being Apocalypse Now.

8.5/10

Blade Runner

I think the more times you watch this film the better it gets. I thought it was one of the most overrated films of all time on my first viewing. Over the years I've become to appreciate Scott's vision. I actually think this is one of Harrison Ford's better performances. As a whole I think he's a pretty stagnant actor that doesn't show a whole lot of range. Also, as dated as the soundtrack is I still enjoyed it.

8/10

The Messenger

This was and still is my favorite film of 2009. I was a little unsure watching it this evening if I would enjoy it as much as I did in theaters. Each and every time they notify a family that their son/daughter has been killed I get major chills. There are two films last year that covered the War in Iraq, The Messenger and The Hurt Locker. I feel that The Messenger is the better film. I connect more with this story because it deals with a different and unique perspective to the war. Woody Harrelson definitely deserved a Best Supporting Actor nomination and I think an argument could have been made for Ben Foster and Samantha Morton. Overall I love how everything played off in the end.

8/10

[iam1bearcat]

Revanche (netflix streaming)
(sorry jhiggy, didn't see your post about the PQ till i finished watching the film )

first things first: damn it jhiggy, surf, and squid. you guys and your brilliant recommendations are really screwing with my mind and my favorites list pretty brutally lately. first it was The Lives of Others which has skyrocketed up to the #2 spot possibly () and now Revanche. i don't know where exactly it is "number wise" but it certainly will grow on me in the coming days.

to be honest, after the first 30 or so minutes, i was not into this film at all. i wasn't really interested in the story or the characters, very little was happening and i just didn't seem to "get it". hell, i was this close to turning it off and trying again at a later date. but, i decided to keep with it.

holy jebus i'm glad i did.

but, i don't really understand why i enjoyed the film so much. after the first 45-50 minutes, it's a completely different film in feel, setting, structure and tension. i completely forgot how the film began until it ended and i began thinking about it. don't know if that's technically good or bad, but either way i've rarely had that happen before.

but, man oh man, the thing i can't shake is that

[Show spoiler]NOTHING HAPPENS! for about 20 minutes it seems like we see Alex chop wood and chop wood and chop wood in between looking at Tamara's picture, and sitting at the lake

but i don't hate the film for that. i don't dislike it for what it is. i actually really love it and at times was like, entranced by it. it suddenly became a very emotionally driven story. little dialogue. little action. little forward progression - it seems on the surface. but the underlying tension and connection between the characters of Alex and Robert. the fact that

[Show spoiler]both men must live with essentially the same consequences. in a sense Robert and Alex are both equally responsible for Tamara's death. she didn't need to be in the car, like she and Robert said. she wasn't along with the robbery, so why have her along? if i was Robert that would drive me crazy as well. and Alex, has to live with the fact that he wanted her along in the car and said she would be fine. that would also drive me to the breaking point. you can completely understand both men's situations and see how much they care.

few films can pull off the

[Show spoiler]regret and guilt

as well as Revanche does. and the main story-arc being

[Show spoiler]revenge / vengeance, and when does a man attempt to get it? but what does that get you?

it is subtle though i believe and slowly builds up until you can't look away from it. genius? yes dammit, yes!

and then the relationship dynamic between

[Show spoiler]Alex and Susanne

, which at first i didn't really find all that believable, but it has grown on me since i finished the film. the

[Show spoiler]ending was almost haunting as she figures out that the girl that her husband killed is the girl who was with the robber... who is Alex... who she slept with and is now pregnant with his baby, to make her husband happy thinking it is theirs and that he can have children...

all i can say is that makes my head spin in a wild panic thinking about all that and how the layers build on top of each other slowly but surely.

i was thinking of giving Revanche 5/5, and maybe in time with repeated viewing and more hours of thought behind it i will, but i still feel the opening act was off and not as layered or well structured as the rest of the film, and the lingering of the first hour had me a little ansy. but the second half / third act are incredibly remarkable. i almost thought surfdude was crazy when he said i'd love Revanche, but damn him, he was right!

oh, and about the ending:

[Show spoiler]i think the film should've ended with Alex and Susanne at the table, both holding massive life changing guilty secrets over each other, but was the final scene supposed to show us that he was still living on the farm many months later?

i don't know the exact time the film took place in (season wise) but it definitely

[Show spoiler]seemed different in the final shot. so i took it to mean that they had both kept their screts, and that Alex was never caught and that he was now living a quiet, solitary life on the farm, and that his grandfather had probably passed away and he was keeping it going for him.

if i'm wrong though let me know. but if that's what it means / shows, then i'm more than satisfied with how it ended.

4.75/5

[tbizzle]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

Revanche (netflix streaming)
(sorry jhiggy, didn't see your post about the PQ till i finished watching the film )

first things first: damn it jhiggy, surf, and squid. you guys and your brilliant recommendations are really screwing with my mind and my favorites list pretty brutally lately. first it was The Lives of Others which has skyrocketed up to the #2 spot possibly () and now Revanche. i don't know where exactly it is "number wise" but it certainly will grow on me in the coming days.

to be honest, after the first 30 or so minutes, i was not into this film at all. i wasn't really interested in the story or the characters, very little was happening and i just didn't seem to "get it". hell, i was this close to turning it off and trying again at a later date. but, i decided to keep with it.

holy jebus i'm glad i did.

but, i don't really understand why i enjoyed the film so much. after the first 45-50 minutes, it's a completely different film in feel, setting, structure and tension. i completely forgot how the film began until it ended and i began thinking about it. don't know if that's technically good or bad, but either way i've rarely had that happen before.

but, man oh man, the thing i can't shake is that

[Show spoiler]NOTHING HAPPENS!

but i don't hate the film for that. i don't dislike it for what it is. i actually really love it and at times was like, entranced by it. it suddenly became a very emotionally driven story. little dialogue. little action. little forward progression - it seems on the surface. but the underlying tension and connection between the characters of Alex and Robert. the fact that

[Show spoiler]both men must live with essentially the same consequences. in a sense Robert and Alex are both equally responsible for Tamara's death. she didn't need to be in the car, like she and Robert said. she wasn't along with the robbery, so why have her along? if i was Robert that would drive me crazy as well. and Alex, has to live with the fact that he wanted her along in the car and said she would be fine. that would also drive me to the breaking point. you can completely understand both men's situations and see how much they care.

few films can pull of the

[Show spoiler]regret and guilt

as well as Revanche does. it is subtle though i believe and slowly builds up until you can't look away from it. genius? yes dammit, yes!

and then the relationship dynamic between

[Show spoiler]Alex and Susanne

, which at first i didn't really find all that believable, but it has grown on me since i finished the film. the

[Show spoiler]ending was almost haunting as she figures out that the girl that her husband killed is the girl who was with the robber... who is Alex... who she slept with and is now pregnant with his baby, to make her husband happy thinking it is theirs and that he can have children...

all i can say is that makes my head spin in a wild panic thinking about all that and how the layers build on top of each other slowly but surely.

i was thinking of giving Revanche 5/5, and maybe in time with repeated viewing and more hours of thought behind it i will, but i still feel the opening act was off and not as layered or well structured as the rest of the film, and the lingering of the first hour had me a little ansy. but the second half / third act are incredibly remarkable. i almost thought surfdude was crazy when he said i'd love Revanche, but damn him, he was right!

oh, and about the ending:

[Show spoiler]i think the film should've ended with Alex and Susanne at the table, both holding massive life changing guilty secrets over each other, but was the final scene supposed to show us that he was still living on the farm many months later?

i don't know the exact time the film took place in (season wise) but it definitely

[Show spoiler]seemed different in the final shot. so i took it to mean that they had both kept their screts, and that Alex was never caught and that he was now living a quiet, solitary life on the farm, and that his grandfather had probably passed away and he was keeping it going for him.

if i'm wrong though let me know. but if that's what it means / shows, then i'm more than satisfied with how it ended.

4.75/5

Glad you liked it man. I agree, not much happens in this one, but that's the beauty of it. It doesn't have a crazy movie type plot (I guess it kinda does) but it's very simple and character driven. In the aftermath of the robbery, I liked how you put it.... both men had to deal with the responsibility of

[Show spoiler]her death

.

I liked it a lot, very well done film imo

[LordoftheRings]

Film: 2/5
Picture: 3.25/5
Sound: 4/5
Extras: 1/5
Overall: 2/5

* Last comment: ...And I felt I was generous! Save yourself the trouble, and watch "Zombieland" instead.

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

Film: 2/5
Picture: 3.25/5
Sound: 4/5
Extras: 1/5
Overall: 2/5

* Last comment: ...And I felt I was generous! Save yourself the trouble, and watch "Zombieland" instead.

It is definitely one of the weaker entries into the series, not the worst though.